St. Bernadette Newsletter March 23rd, 2016

St. Bernadette Elementary

School Newsletter

March 23rd, 2016

Highlights

• Spring Break Survey

• School Structural Updates

• Track and Field Start Up

• Holy Thursday Retreat

School News

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH

The virtue for the Month of March is generosity. We are instilling this virtue in our students by showing the variety of ways one can be generous to others. We want students to know that generosity is not just limited to objects and money. Although it is an important character trait to share and give of their possessions and money, we also want students to understand that we can do the same with our time, talents, and just being ourselves. It involves discernment and balance. We as a school community will strive to demonstrate to our children what generosity means as an individual and also as a Christian school community.

READY, SET, LEARN

It’s not too late to register for Ready, Set, Learn. This fun and educational evening is designed for Parents to attend with their preschoolers (age 3, 4 & 5).

Please register by email or by calling the school office. Invite your friends and neighbours! March 31 at 6:30pm in the school library. **Gift bags for every child.

SPRING BREAK SURVEY

The CISVA is conducting a survey in to gain feedback from parents about the 2 week Spring Break. To take the survey, please click on the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BH3Y6J6

The survey closes on Thursday March 31st.

SCHOOL UPDATES

There are 3 major updates happening in the school over Spring Break.

1. NewSchoolFurnaces – Our current Furnaces have never been replaced when the school was first built back in 1986. In recent years the cost for upkeep has grown significantly. This year we receive approval and funding from the parish to replace the furnaces in the school. They will be replaced with high efficiency furnaces that should last the school for several years to come!

2. NewWhiteboardsinalltheClassroom – The days of chalkboards are behind us. Again, we received approval and funding from the parish to replace all the chalkboards at the front of the classroom with porcelain whiteboards. This whiteboards have a lifetime guarantee and provides a much needed update to the learning in the classroom. The chalkboards located on the rolling walls on the sides of the classrooms will not be replaced at this time due to cost concerns.

If you would like to HAVE one of the chalkboards please call Marc Fournier 778-877-9548.

3. NewInteractiveProjectors – The PSG has kindly agreed to purchase 4 new projectors to go into the primary classrooms. This will mean that every classroom will have access to state of the art technology on a daily basis. The new projectors will allow students to use their fingers to move objects that are projected onto the whiteboards! If you would like to see it in action, please go to their website http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?sku=V11H599022 to watch some videos. The hope is to have these projectors in every classroom over the next few years.

SPRING CLEAN-UP

Gather your rakes, weed-eaters, garden tools, brooms, garden gloves, buckets etc. for Saturday, April 2nd @ 9:30 for the school & school grounds clean-up. we are also looking to borrow a gas powered pressure washer Please text Marc Fournier @778-877-9548 if you are able to come and help clean up around the school grounds. If you are short of parent participation hours this is a great opportunity for you. The more help we have the quicker the job can get done.

TRACK AND FIELD DATES AND TIMES

We have close to 100% participation in grades 3-7 for track and field this year. A list of practice times and dates was sent home with your child. If you need more information, the school has extra forms.

The date for the Knights of Columbus Track Meet has been announced. It will take place on Saturday May 7th at Bear Creek Park. More information to come.

APPLICATION FOR NEW FAMILIES

We are currently accepting applications for new families. The response from new families that have already applied has been extremely positive. Many of the families have applied due to the positive and affirming feedback they have received. All of the families we have interviewed are very excited to join our community and are eager to get involved.

We are very thankful to have such amazing families in our school. Thank you for sharing your experiences with your families, friends, co-workers, and neighbours. It makes us stronger as a community and it ultimately benefits the education of your child and the new families that join us.

If you know of someone who would benefit from having their child(ren) at our school, please have them contact us or direct them to our website to download an application form.